Synergistic antibacterial activity between Thymus vulgaris and Pimpinella anisum essential oils and methanol extracts

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 116; no. 3; pp. 403 - 406
• Main Author: Al-Bayati, Firas A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 28.03.2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: aerial parts; animal pathogenic bacteria; anise; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial plants; antibacterial properties; Bacillus cereus; Bacteria - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Synergism; Escherichia coli; Essential oils; General pharmacology; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Medical sciences; methanol; Methanol - chemistry; Methanol extract; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; minimum inhibitory concentration; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pimpinella - chemistry; Pimpinella anisum; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Proteus mirabilis; Proteus vulgaris; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salmonella typhi; Salmonella typhimurium; seeds; specialty crops; Staphylococcus aureus; synergism; Synergistic antibacterial activity; thyme; Thymus Plant - chemistry; Thymus vulgaris; Synergistic antibacterial activity; Methanol extract; Thymus vulgaris; Essential oils; Pimpinella anisum; Essential oil plant; Pharmacognosy; Extract; Medicinal plant; Labiatae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Flavoring crop; Spermatophyta; Essential oil; Umbelliferae; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.12.003

Essential oils (EOs) and methanol extracts obtained from aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris and Pimpinella anisum seeds were evaluated for their single and combined antibacterial activities against nine Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The essential oils and methanol extracts revealed promising antibacterial activities against most pathogens using broth microdilution method. Maximum activity of Thymus vulgaris and Pimpinella anisum essential oils and methanol extracts (MIC 15.6 and 62.5 μg/ml) were observed against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Proteus vulgaris. Combinations of essential oils and methanol extracts showed an additive action against most tested pathogens especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa.